Hiked early in the morning. Trail is still full of fall mushrooms and a few coho salmon are still alive in the stream. A warning, though; the smell is pretty bad at the stream crossing due to all the rotting salmon carcasses.

I went with my just turned 3 yr old and almost 5 yr old. My youngest definitely needed to hold a hand for the ups and downs but made the hike on his own two feet. My oldest did just fine - I held her hand going down some of the steepest parts but she was otherwise on her own the rest of the time. It's mainly down hill going out and then uphill coming back but still short enough to be fine for the shorties. 

Was on the Olympic Peninsula for a wedding this weekend and didn’t have a ton of time, but wanted to get out and enjoy the outdoors and sunshine before I got back on the ferry. After doing a little research I was directed to this little trail. The trail promises old growth and boy, did it deliver! 

In terms of directions, the sign for the Kitsap Forest Theater is easy to miss. It’s just a little sign and because there’s a house next to the driveway, it’s deceiving that it’s the turn for the theater. I drove back and forth a couple of times before I found it. Part of the issue as well is that it seems like Seabeck Highway is a more heavily traveled road by people who know it well, so I wasn’t able to go slow enough to look since there were so many cars behind me.

The trail is part of the grounds that the Kitsap Forest Theater encompasses, which is actually run by the Mountaineers. The parking lot for the trail/theater is the last thing on your left. There are several cabins and I saw several tents set up all over the grounds as well. When I wandered in the main cabin, I found several people making lunch. Apparently a company puts on family friendly shows during weekends in the summer and the actors were all down at the theater rehearsing! There was a bathroom with flush toilets, running water, as well as a shower, but I assume that it’s only open during the summer months while actors are there/shows are happening. 

The trail itself is at the end of the parking area. It’s a little under 2 miles round trip. It starts out with several steep-ish switchbacks down before you get to the Wildcat Bridge, then it’s fairly flat. The trail is well managed and they have built plenty of aids in footing to make the way down easier. It’s nothing to worry about unless you have really young children with you. I didn’t encounter any bugs. I did encounter a heron standing in the water when I began to cross the bridge, but alas, he flew off when he saw me. 

The trees the entire way are magnificent and the forest is lush, mossy, and amazing, almost a little like the Hoh. The trees are so tall with such big canopies that they block out the sun in some places! You should be aware of roots around you, as there are several large, stumble-worthy ones. Big Tree itself is everything that was promised- a giant, magical sentinel of the forest. I will take this moment to point out that you should not try to go behind the tree. As some of the ground is eroding, there is concern that the tree will become uprooted if enough of the ground wears away due to people climbing where they’re not supposed to. Also, please don’t throw refuse out on the trail! I saw a can behind the tree and I would have gone to pick it up, but it was behind the tree where you’re not supposed to go. Hopefully someone can get it with a  trash picker. :/

Even though it was the middle of the day on a nice, warm, sunny Sunday I only encountered one couple on my little hike, so it was nice to have it all mostly to myself. I’d say that this trail is suitable for children above 3 (?), just watch the roots. And if you’re here on a weekend check out the show! They’re performing Tuck Everlasting. I plan to come back some time this summer with friends to catch a show and get a picture of myself in front of Big Tree!